The Engagement Ring Bling

How much should you spend on a diamond engagement ring?

$100?

$1000?

How about a whopping $1 million?

That’s what Donald Trump just spent on an engagement ring for his lovely wife to be, Melania Knauss. Can you imagine what it must be like to wear any ring worth that much on a daily basis?

The Donald must hire beefy security guards with names like Wolfgang and Spike just to watch over Melania every time her and her delicate ring finger step out the door.

Buying expensive diamond jewelry for their significant others seem to be a Trump family trait. Well, you’ve gotta do something with all that money besides invest in real estate deals.

Trump’s son, Donald Jr. has just proposed to his fiancée, Vanessa Haydon, with a very impressive four-carat emerald cut diamond ring with a diamond-encrusted platinum band. However, Vanessa’s ring can be considered a real bargain at a cost of only $100,000.

While most regular folks will not be able to come close to spending that kind of money on an engagement ring for their sweethearts, there are still many very wonderful options if you’re looking to buy a diamond engagement ring, wedding ring, or wedding band online.

You should be able to find the perfect ring online to fit into your budget. You can even buy a custom engagement ring or wedding ring for a very reasonable price.

So take comfort in the fact that you don’t have to be rich like the Trumps to present your loved one with a truly beautiful engagement ring that will make everyone feel very rich indeed.

By Donna Monday

Symbolism of Wedding Rings

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed."
-C.G. Jung

Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness and homecoming. The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and celebration.

In addition, the circle in rock art, sacred stone arrays, and astrology represents both the Sun and the Moon, themselves astrological and alchemical symbols for the masculine and feminine aspects of the cosmos. This correspondence with the Sun and Moon is emphasized by the frequent practice of choosing gold for one betrothed and silver for the other, as gold and silver are the metals long associated with the Sun and Moon respectively.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

The widespread tradition of embellishing the plain gold or silver wedding band with various designs and patterns has been known since at least 700 AD, in both Pan-Hellenic and Celtic cultures. The quite ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the serpent which consumes its own tail, was a theme used for wedding rings made of iron in Rome. The ouroboros itself is a symbol of the oneness of creation and destruction in renewal, and the life principle which timelessly feeds on its own inspiration. It also represents the hope for a lifelong marriage union that’s continually renewed.

Celtic wedding rings are often gorgeously decorated with geometric knot work patterns that have a long history and central place in Celtic art. These patterns are strongly vegetative, suggesting tendrils and vines. In fact, in much of Celtic art, including the famous illuminated Bible, The Book of Kells, these Celtic Knots emerge from or transform into vegetative foliage. The beautiful symmetry of these woven patterns is often not square, rigid, or overly formal, but organic, flowing, and a stylized reflection of the curves and spirals found in nature. Indeed, the Celtic Knots that embellish wedding rings herald the ideas of spring, fertility, and the eternal reawakening of the life force - all of which bode well for a fruitful life partnership.

Wedding rings have most commonly been worn on the third finger of the left hand. Speculation has it that this is because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. An alternate suggestion for this tradition is that each finger on the hand is associated with a planet in the ancient systems of astrology, and the ring finger of the left hand was associated with the Sun. In this way, the wearing of a wedding ring on that finger signifies the public proclamation of the union in the daylight, in other words, the conscious and clearly visible world of human community. This correspondence is perhaps even more strongly emphasized by the general tendency to craft wedding rings out of gold, which is symbolically the metal of the Sun throughout folk history and across cultures.

Wedding rings capture the full range of the ceremonial, symbolic, and communal aspects of marriage, and preserve these many levels of significance as a durable and constant reminder. Ancient yet contemporary, steeped in lore and mystery yet almost universally exchanged, wedding rings combine the art of the jeweler, the reverence of the betrothed, and the beauty of love and partnership in a single, resonant symbol.

By Peter Breslin

Celebrities and their Diamond Engagement Rings

What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.

The history of diamond engagement rings

Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.

The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.

Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.
Famous ladies and their engagement rings

Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty:

* Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.

* Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.

* Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.

Actresses:

* Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.

* Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.

* Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3.5 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.

* Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at slmost $2 million.

* Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:

* Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.

* In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.

* Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.

* Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.

* Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.

* Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

Replica diamond engagement rings

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.

Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.

Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.

By Tim Richardson

Diamond Engagement Ring – Budget

A Diamond Engagement Ring is the best and timely gift to your Fiancée. Her heart is as pure as the diamond you are putting on her fingers and your bond of Love is as strong as the Diamond itself. Your first Gift to your would be wife is priceless and will be cherished by her throughout her life. Your Heart is full of Love and affection for her. You would want to give her all the things in the World.

But in spite of all these things the Diamond Ring you are going to gift to her has a price. What should be that price and what amount you must pay for that Diamond Ring? As for everything in life it is always better to have a budget and planning for the purchase of this Diamond Engagement Ring.

How much is reasonable for your diamond Ring. It is said that 2 to 3 months Salary must be the maximum that could be spent on a Diamond Engagement Ring.

Usually the People go for G- H in Color of the Diamond, and VS to S11 in Clarity will be the general specification for an engagement Ring. But depending on the Budget the size of the Diamond will be decided. Higher color of the Diamond and higher clarity of the Diamond will be a good choice but a higher Price has to be paid for it. The Cut of the Diamond also adds to its Price

It will be very difficult for the common People to see the difference between good, very good and excellent cut and symmetry in Diamonds. So is the Case with Polish of the Diamond. But a very poor and not so good Polish and Cut work on the Diamond can be seen even by ordinary People.

First decide about your Budget for the Diamond Ring, and accordingly decide about the properties of the Diamond within the Price like Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color, the diamond setting and band. Depending on the material for the Band like Platinum or white or yellow Gold the price of the Ring will vary.

If you wish to go for a bigger sized Diamond then you have to compromise with other qualities of the Diamond and you may even get a slightly less quality Diamond with less brilliance. The deciding factor must be the Cut and polish of the Diamond rather than the size of the Diamond. You will love that eternal brilliance of the Diamond if these are taken care of even if the size of the Stone is a little lesser than you wanted.

By John Gibb

Right hand Engagement Diamond Rings

A Diamond ring happens to be the best present as an Engagement Ring. The Right hand Engagement Diamond Ring seems to be the darling of the Diamond Jewelry market and its sales are touching all time highs. This Right hand diamond Ring is associated with the modern independent Career Woman who stands for the Success, Strength and self assertiveness and Freedom.

This old- but renewed product that is projected as the symbol of the eternal Love is opposed to the old style Diamond engagement Rings and the Diamond anniversary Bands. It is designed to be worn on a different hand but its design is also entirely different. The Design of the Right hand engagement Diamond Rings is entirely different from the matrimonial Rings. It is designed with more open spaces, smaller Gemstones that are arranged in such a way that it reflects the personality and individuality of the Wearer.

The Right hand Diamond engagement Rings followed the Diamond engagement Rings that were made wearable by both the men and women who are about to be get married. These Rings were made a symbol of the new era of independent Women who were successful along side the men. The diamond ring at the right Hand makes the new liberated Woman think that the left hand ring stands for the labors that marriage brings along while the right hand Ring reads as the careless, joyful side of life.

These Right hand Diamond Engagement Rings are also made attractive to the Men by telling them that they are encouraged to buy a Gift for their wives that will flatter not only their need for love proofs but also the thought of being valued and respected as an independent person, and not a nice accessory to men or a house decor item.

The trend has been set even if the man is not married but has a love relationship it is a must for him to buy and present a Right hand ring to his lover as a proof of his love and a symbol of his commitment to her. These Right hand Diamond Rings being a symbol of love it also attracted the unusual man and man Gay Lovers and girl and girl lovers also.

Any marketing with the human vanity as the basis has done extremely well and this technique has been effectively used to create a trend among the humans for the marketing of a product just by declaring and reinforcing the thought that these right Hand Engagement Diamond Rings are a must buy and Gift to maintain the relationship.

By John Gibb

About Engagement Rings Styles

The engagement ring is a ring you can use for the rest of your life, in many cases people place the engagement ring next to their wedding ring, which means that its style should reflect the same idea as of the wedding ring, this combination should be on your mind when looking for your engagement ring.

It is traditional for Americans and Europeans to place an engagement ring on the left-hand ring finger of a woman who has accepted a man’s proposal for marriage. The engagement ring is a symbol of the devotion and intent to be the one and only woman in her beau’s life. It lets everyone know that this is a lady that is spoken for. In the classical history of engagement ring styles and traditions, the ring was fashioned from a plain gold band. Today, engagement ring styles have evolved into a monster of choices that rivals the purchase of the wedding ring.

Traditional engagement ring styles often deal with a precious band that showcases a diamond or another gem. Over the years, the modern engagement ring style seems to incorporate a wide range of band varieties, including silver, gold and the increasingly popular platinum option. Since the 1940s, a single diamond is practically considered standard in today’s society. The well-known diamond company, De Beers, who pushed a highly successful advertising vision for the gem, made all of this possible.

It is not uncommon to see emeralds, rubies or sapphires taking the place of a diamond, but it is the latter that symbolizes strength and the concept of something that will last a lifetime. Engagement ring styles are often based on their durability, which is seen through the gems, as well as the bands. Gold and platinum last longer and represent higher quality than silver.

A growing trend among band materials includes titanium and stainless steel, which costs less, but also have a higher level of durability. It is these materials that allow a tension setting that projects the illusion of a stone that is floating.

There are many different engagement ring styles to choose from including classic and modern looks. With classic engagement ring styles, the settings are usually platinum in the bands with a round or emerald-cut for the stone. Modern engagement ring styles use a bezel-set design, making daily wear a compatible addition to any wardrobe.

As with all jewelry there are trends in engagement ring styles that are hitting the scene and includes antique rings that present a vintage flair that allows you to feel like you are wearing something rather historic. Some of the characteristics of these rings include floral accents, as well as filigree settings.

Platinum rings tend to be more expensive, but they will not only last longer, but will also keep its brilliant shine. It will not tarnish or yellow like other metals. These bands also make a variety of hand-carved, customized options possible.

Whichever ring you decide you go with you should always try and lower the price and ask for some kind of discount, if you know exactly what you want you can also search for the same design concepts in other shops, in either case it is always good to research and compare prices and quality.

By Roy Dietelzieg